Accessory part for a mobile station

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an accessory part for a mobile station. In order to facilitate the use of the mobile station, it is proposed that the accessory part comprises a headset  8, 9  as well as a digital camera  3 . Both can be connected simultaneously via a connector  1  of the accessory part to a mobile station. Thus, a user only has to handle a single accessory part in order to make use of two different functions enabled by a mobile station. The invention equally relates to a mobile station with which such an accessory part can be employed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is the U.S. National Stage of International ApplicationNumber PCT/IB02/00785 filed Mar. 14, 2002 and published in the Englishlanguage on Sep. 18, 2003 under International Publication No. WO03/077506 A1 with international search report.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an accessory part for a mobile station. Theinvention equally relates to a mobile station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Accessory parts for mobile stations, like a mobile phone, are well knownin the state of the art for enabling or facilitating the use of specialfunctions of a mobile station.

A common accessory part is for example a headset that can be plugged into a mobile station. Such a headset enables a comfortable, handsfreeoperation of a mobile station.

Another accessory part that is available on the market is an add-ondigital camera that can be connected to a mobile station. An add-ondigital camera enables e.g. an immediate transmission of photographs viaa mobile station, even if the mobile station itself does not comprise acamera. But it is equally known to integrate a digital camera entirelyin a mobile station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to facilitate a comprehensive use of amobile station.

This object is reached on the one hand with an accessory part for amobile station comprising a headset, a digital camera and a connector.The connector enables a simultaneous connection of the headset and thecamera with a mobile station. It is to be noted that only the mechanicalconnection has to be simultaneous. The active electrical connection canbe either simultaneous or alternative for the headset and the camera.

On the other hand, the object of the invention is reached with a mobilestation designed for co-operating with the accessory part of theinvention. Such a mobile station comprises a connector for connecting aheadset and a digital camera of an accessory part for this mobilestation simultaneously to the mobile station. Further, such a mobilestation comprises processing means enabling an exchange of data andsignals via the connector of the mobile station with an accessory partincluding a headset and a camera. The enabled exchange of data andsignals includes at least the transmission of audio signals from themobile station to the headset and the transmission of image data fromthe camera to the mobile station. Preferably, the enabled exchange ofdata and signals includes as well the transmission of audio signals froma microphone associated to the headset to the mobile station, andpossibly as well the transmission of control signals from the mobilestation to the camera. The functionality of the processing means can berealized in particular by software.

The invention proceeds from the consideration that it is morecomfortable for a user of a mobile station to handle one device than twodevices in addition to the mobile station. Therefore, the inventionproposes to combine a mobile station headset and a digital camera in asingle device, which is connected via a single connector to the mobilestation.

It is thus an advantage of the invention that a user of a mobile stationdoes not have to deal with two different accessory parts for making useof two different functions of the mobile station. Further, it ensuresthat a camera is always available when needed, since an availableheadset for a mobile station is usually carried along by a user.Compared to a camera integrated into a mobile station, it is also anadvantage of the invention that the accessory part can either be soldtogether with a mobile station or separately.

Preferred embodiments of the invention become apparent from thedescription which follows below.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the digital camera itselfhas only a very basic functionality. The camera may for instance onlyenable a user to take pictures and to send the obtained image data tothe mobile station. The operating means provided to this end may berealized as one or more buttons. A user interface for the digital cameraenabling a more sophisticated use of the camera and/or of the obtaineddata can be provided by the mobile station to which the accessory partis connected. Such a user interface can be employed by a user e.g. forinteracting with the processing means of a mobile station, in order tocontrol a processing of image data obtained from the camera by theseprocessing means.

The camera preferably comprises at least a lens and a shutter, in caseit is a non-digital camera. In case the camera is a digital camera, thecamera preferably comprises at least a lens and an image sensor, forexample a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) image sensor, aCCD (charge-coupled device) type image sensor or any other suitable kindof image sensor. In this case, reading the image from the sensor isactivated whenever a picture is to be taken, as is well known from thestate of the art. In order to enable a user to operate the shutter or toactivate reading an image from the sensor, an activation key can beprovided at the camera. Alternatively, the user interface of the mobilestation could be used for operating the shutter or for activating theimage sensor.

A still image or video images can be transmitted to the mobile stationautomatically after a photograph or a video was taken, or upon anexplicit request by a user. In the latter case, the user could browsethe image data in particular with the mobile station, in order to decidewhich image data are to be transmitted.

The camera further preferably comprises a view finder, butalternatively, also the display of the mobile phone could be used as aview finder.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the camera comprise amovable hatch. This hatch can be used to alternate the electricalconnection of the mobile station to the headset or the camera. In caseof a digital camera, the hatch may be provided in addition oralternatively for starting the camera circuitry or at least for wakingit up from sleep. The hatch may further protect the lens in one of itspositions, whenever the camera is not in use.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the camera comprisesin addition at least one LED (light emitting diode), which indicateswhether the device is ready to take a picture and/or whether dataprocessing is taking place.

Advantageously, the accessory part comprises a loop-like structure,which can be put around the neck of a user. This enables an easy andcomfortable use and transportation of the accessory part. At least aportion of the loop-like structure should be formed by a cable providinga connection between the connector and the headset. In case the headsetis a stereo headset comprising two earphones, two cables connecting arespective different one of the earphones to the connector can beemployed for forming the loop-like structure. This minimizes additionalmaterial required for forming a loop-like structure.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the accessory partcomprises a microphone. The microphone can be integrated in particularinto a cable of the accessory part, e.g. into a provided loop-likestructure, or into the camera.

The digital camera of the accessory part according to the invention isprimarily meant to be realized as a camera taking photographs, but itcould also be realized as a digital video camera. It is understood thatthe term image data always relates as well to the data of still imagescaptured by a video camera or a regular camera, as to the data of videoimages captured by a video camera.

In case the camera is a video camera, operating means should be providedwhich enables a user to initiate the capture of a video. In case theoperating means are given by an activation key, the same key could bepressed a second time for ending the recording. Alternatively, a secondkey could be provided to this end. Memory or other technologyrestrictions might also limit the recording automatically.

If video feed is supported by the camera, an additional man-machineinterface like a switch button should be provided as further operatingmeans by the camera or by a connected mobile station for switchingbetween still image and video modes. Alternatively, the video and thestill mode could also be set from a user interface of the mobilestation.

The accessory part according to the invention can be employed inparticular, though not exclusively, with mobile stations not equippedwith an integrated camera.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by way ofexample with reference to drawings, of which

FIG. 1 is a sketch showing an embodiment of an accessory part accordingto the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sketch illustrating the use of an embodiment of theaccessory part according to the invention by a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 presents an embodiment of the accessory part according to theinvention.

The depicted accessory part comprises a connector 1 which is attachedvia a cable 2 to a camera 3. The cable 2 is not shown entirely in theFIGURE. The camera 3 is further connected to a cable 4 which isseparated into two cables 5, 6 in short distance to the connection tothe camera 3. These two cables 5, 6, which have the same length, areclosed to a loop-like structure by a connecting element 7. A respectiveearphone 8, 9 of a stereo headset is further connected via a respectivecable 10, 11 to each side of the connecting element 7 receiving thecables 5, 6 forming the loop-like structure. The cable 10, 11 of therespective earphone 8, 9 may constitute a prolongation of the respectivecable 5, 6 of the loop-like structure. Alternatively, the cables 10, 11of the earphones 8, 9 may each be electrically connected in theconnecting element 7 to another one of the cables 5, 6 of the loop-likestructure. A microphone 12 is integrated into one of the cables 5forming the loop-like structure.

The camera 3 comprises a lens 31 and a view finder 32. The lens isassociated to an image sensor located within the camera 3. Moreover, ahatch 33 connected to the camera 3 is movable in the directionsindicated in the FIGURE by a double-headed arrow to cover the lens 31and the view finder 32 when the camera is not in use. Finally, a button34 is provided on the camera 3 for activating the image sensor 31 inorder to take a picture. The camera 3 also comprises a memory forstoring image data of taken photographs. The camera 3 may be designedfor supporting imaging in portrait mode in addition or instead ofsupporting imaging in standard mode.

For making use of the accessory part, it is first connected via itsconnector 1 to a mobile phone having a bottom connector. The mobilephone should further comprise a software supporting the use of a plug-incamera.

A user can then put the loop-like structure around the neck, asillustrated in FIG. 2 for a slightly modified accessory part.

FIG. 2 shows more specifically a front and a rear view of a user using asecond embodiment of the accessory part according to the invention. Thebasic structure of this second embodiment is the same as the basicstructure of the first embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, and correspondingfeatures are labeled with the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1. Incontrast to the first embodiment, however, the two cables 5, 6 formingthe loop-like structure are connected directly to the camera 3, not viaa combining cable 4. The connecting element is further composed of twoparts 7 a, 7 b. The first part 7 a is fixed to cables 5 and 10, whilethe second part 7 b is fixed to cables 6 and 11. The two part 7 a, 7 bare connected to each other by a releasable, snapping connection, whichallows the user to put the loop-like structure around his/her neck andto remove it again in a particularly comfortable manner. The camera 3 isnot depicted in detail in FIG. 2, since it comprises the same componentsas in the first embodiment.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the loop-like structure is put around the neckof the user in a way that the connecting element 7 a, 7 b rests againstthe back of the neck. The camera 3, which is arranged in the loop-likestructure opposite to the connecting element 7 a, 7 b, is thus hangingin front of the chest of the user. In this position, the lens 31 of thecamera 3 is located on one side of the view finder 32 of the camera 3,i.e. the camera 3 is turned by 90° compared to a regular camera. Thisbecomes apparent in detail from FIG. 1. The microphone 12, which is notshown explicitly in FIG. 2, is further located at a relatively shortdistance to the mouth of the user, since it is inserted in cable 5. Theearphones 8, 9 are connected to the ears of the user for a handsfreeconversation via the mobile phone or for listening to music stored inthe mobile phone. The camera 3 is in a position that does not cause anyannoyance during such activities.

In addition, the user can take a snapshot with the digital camera 3 anytime. To this end, the user simply uncovers the lens 31 and the viewfinder 32 by moving the hatch 33 and lifts the camera 3 up into asuitable position for taking a picture, turning it by 90°. Moving thehatch 33 activates at the same time the camera circuit. It is notnecessary to unplug the headset from the mobile phone and to plug inanother accessory part comprising a camera. The user can then select asubject through the view finder 32 of the camera and activate the imagesensor by pressing button 34, in order to take a picture. The image datagenerated for this picture can be stored for example in the memory ofthe camera 3.

The user may then browse the images currently stored in the memory ofthe camera 3 and select specific images for a download from the camera 3to the mobile phone via a user interface of the mobile phone.Alternatively, the camera could send all captured images automaticallyto the mobile phone. The user interface of the mobile phone furtherenables the user to decide what to do with downloaded image data. Theuser can attach an image for example to a multimedia message andtransmit the message using a multimedia messaging service (MMS).Alternatively, the user could also attach an image to an email or to anyother messaging type that supports also the transmission of images.

The described embodiments constitute only two of various possibleembodiments of the invention. The described elements and functions canin particular be combined differently, and also be varied orsupplemented in any suitable way.

1. An accessory part for a mobile station comprising: a first earphoneand a second earphone; a first cable configured to connect the firstearphone to a first portion of a connecting element and a second cableconfigured to connect the second earphone to a second portion of theconnecting element, wherein the first portion of the connecting elementis detachable from the second portion of the connecting element; a thirdcable configured to connect the first portion of the connecting elementto a camera and a fourth cable configured to connect the second portionof the connecting element to the camera; a microphone mounted to atleast one of the first cable, the second cable, the third cable, or thefourth cable; the camera; a fifth cable configured to connect the cameraand a connector; and the connector, wherein the connector is configuredto simultaneously plug the first earphone, the second earphone, themicrophone, and the camera into a mobile station.
 2. The accessory partof claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to receive image datafrom the camera, provide the received image data to the mobile station,and exchange audio data with the first earphone, the second earphone,and the microphone.
 3. The accessory part of claim 1, wherein the thirdcable, the fourth cable, and the connecting element form a loop-likestructure configured to be placed around a neck of a user.
 4. Theaccessory part according to claim 1, wherein the fifth cable isdownstream relative to the camera such that the fifth cable extendsbetween the camera and the connector, and further wherein the thirdcable is upstream relative to the camera such that the third cableextends between the camera and the connecting element.
 5. The accessorypart according to claim 1, wherein the third cable is downstreamrelative to the connecting element such that the third cable extendsbetween the connecting element and the camera, and further wherein thefirst cable is upstream relative to the connecting element such that thefirst cable extends between the connecting element and the firstearphone.
 6. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein saidcamera comprises at least a lens and a shutter for said lens.
 7. Theaccessory part according to claim 1, wherein said camera is a digitalcamera and comprises at least a lens and an image sensor.
 8. Theaccessory part according to claim 7, wherein said camera comprises ahatch movable between a first position in which said hatch covers saidlens, and a second position in which said hatch does not cover saidlens.
 9. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein said cameracomprises a hatch movable between a first position and a secondposition, and wherein moving said hatch from said first position to saidsecond position alternates an electronic connection of the mobilestation.
 10. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein saidcamera is a digital camera, wherein said digital camera comprises ahatch movable between a first position and a second position, andwherein moving said hatch from said first position to said secondposition causes said digital camera to turn on.
 11. The accessory partaccording to claim 1, wherein said camera includes a view finder. 12.The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein said camera comprisesoperating means for enabling a user to take a picture with said camera.13. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein said camera is adigital video camera comprising operating means for enabling a user tomake a video.
 14. The accessory part according to claim 13, wherein saidoperating means enable the user to switch said digital video camerabetween a still mode for capturing still images and a video mode forcapturing the video.
 15. The accessory part according to claim 1,wherein said camera further comprises a memory for storing the imagedata taken with said camera.
 16. The accessory part according to claim1, wherein said camera further comprises means for transmitting theimage data from said camera to the mobile station.
 17. The accessorypart according to claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises an LED(light emitting diode) for indicating a current state of said camera.18. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein said camera isintegrated into at least one of the third cable, the fourth cable, orthe fifth cable.